Student scores win for women

A female college student at South China Normal University has recently won a crucial battle in the fight for women's rights in China. Following her complaints over discriminatory recruitment practices, the company in question agreed to issue a public apology and pay compensation for her losses.

According to a report by the China Youth Daily on Thursday, in November 2012 the woman, who wished to use the pseudonym Wen Yuxuan, lodged a complaint with the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau in Yuexiu district, Guangzhou, claiming that she was the victim of sexual discrimination after she applied for a job posted on zhaopin.cn. Through mediation, the company agreed to make a public apology and pay 601 yuan ($96) in compensation. This is the first time that a victim of sexual discrimination has been compensated.

In October 2012, Wen saw that a Guangzhou-based company was hiring a salesperson, but the posting clearly stated that the job was open only to males. Confident that she had sufficient experience, she submitted her resume, but never received a reply.

Wen called the company's human resources department, but was told that only men were being considered for the job.

Pandemic problem

Sexual discrimination is a common problem in recruitment practices in China. Even openings that take both male and female applicants are more likely to be filled by men.

"Lots of State-owned enterprises discriminate based on gender. This has nearly become an accepted rule," a senior female student from the University of International Relations who wished to remain anonymous told the Global Times. "Private companies prefer male employees, believing they can better adapt to work-related stress, such as working overtime and traveling on business."

Most women who suffer discrimination fail to speak out. But this silence may serve to encourage employers to be more blatant in their sexual discrimination, said Beijing-based lawyer Huang Yizhi.

Professor Ke Qianting of Sun Yat-sen University offered a possible explanation for this phenomenon. Female students may not be able to afford the time and financial costs of filing a discrimination suit, and they are not likely to win the case. According to Ke, this reluctance may affect their job search as well as their ability to get the most out of life.

Improving the system

Wen took a different route by forgoing legal proceedings and seeking mediation. Her case is considered to be a big step in countering discriminatory hiring practices.

Huang suggested that authorities do more to fulfill their duties and improve their supervision of such discrimination.

"It will take a long time for employers to abandon their old-fashioned attitude toward favoring males," Ke said, adding that public organizations need to encourage victims of discrimination to speak out and fight for their rights.

"More challenges from women would in turn improve current laws and regulations," Ke said.